John Thaxter to Abigail Adams

[dateline] Philadelphia July 10th. 1778

[salute] Madam

I had been so short a time in this place when I wrote you last, that it was out of
my power to furnish you then with any particulars respecting the enemy's conduct during
their continuance here. By enquiries and observations since, I am enabled to give
you some particulars on that head.

The City in general has escaped, but houses and fences detached from the Town have
felt the wantoness of their power. Many arbitrary imprisonments have been occasioned
by Villains in the City lodging informations—indeed they were repeated, till fatigued
with the importunities of those Vipers, they turned them out of doors.

Houses of worship of the Presbiterian order were converted into hospitals, while the
Churches escaped. Those buildings have suffered considerable damage. They have unpaled
grave yards and left them as Commons. Men, women and horses have been indiscriminately
thrown into Vaults. Several have been found under the State House. It was not however
a general practice. Single and married women together with Servants to the amount
of near two thousand departed the City with this legion of monsters. The Whigs of
the City would have escaped many evils and Calamities had it not been for those vile
miscreants who were perpetually at the elbow of the General. Upon the whole, there
are left in many places the Vestiges of a British Army and the traces of British Violence.
I need say no more.

By a deserter from the Enemy we hear of their embarkation. Part { 59 } of the fleet is to recieve the troops at New York, if they are not captured by the
French Fleet, which is not improbable. The fleet from France are going to Sandy Hook
not far distant from N. York. They have already sunk an English Frigate of 26 Guns.
The force at New York is very incompetent to an effectual opposition and must fall
a sacrifice if they are not relieved. The Troops there cannot make any figure after
the capture of the Ships. I wish an Event of that kind to take place. We should have
great plenty of goods, as the City I understand is full of them.

[dateline] 11th.

I have the pleasure to congratulate you on the Arrival of the Ambassador in the Delaware.
He is near Chester in a ship of War. Tomorrow he will make his Entrance, I imagine,
into the City. Great preparations were made for his reception this afternoon, but
an unhappy tempest prevented the Ship from coming down the Bay. In the morning I hope
to have the honor of seeing him. He is only 15 miles off.

I have look'd at Whig and Tory Phizes and find the features of Joy in the one and
a dejection bordering on despair in the other. The Transition in the latter from one
State to the other was as unexpected as unwelcome. They will swallow the bitter Pill
of Independence shortly I have no doubt.

It is confidently reported here that the French ships have drove the Roebuck ashore
and captured the Pearl and Rose Frigates. I do not affirm it, tho I firmly believe
that one or two of the Enemy's Fleet are taken or destro[yed.]1 The particulars we shall have tomorrow. I [would] with pleasure wait for them, but the Express leaves this City in a short time. I
have only time to request you will be pleased to remember me to all Friends.

Abigail Adams to John Adams

By Mr. Tailor, who has promised me to deliver this with his own hand to you, or distroy
it if necessary, I take the liberty of writing rather more freely than I should otherways
venture to do. I cannot { 60 } think but with pain of being debared this privilidge, the only one left me for my
consolation in the many solitary and I may add melancholy hours which pass. I promissed
myself a negative kind of happiness whenever I could hear of your safe arrival but
alass I find a craveing void left akeing in my Breast, and I find myself some days
especially more unhappy than I would even wish an Enemy to be. In vain do I strive
to divert my attention, my Heart, like a poor bird hunted from her nest, is still
returning to the place of its affections, and fastens upon the object where all its
cares and tenderness are centered. I must not expect, I ought not indeed for the sake
of your repose to wish to be thus frequently, and thus fondly the subject of your
meditation, but may I not believe that you employ a few moments every day from the
Buisness and pleasures which surround you in thinking of her who wishes not her existance
to survive your affection, who never recollects the cruel hour of seperation but with
tears. From whence shall I gather firmness of mind bereft of the amicable prop upon
which it used to rest and acquire fortitude? The subject is too tender to persue.
I see it touches your Heart. I will quit it at the midnight hour, and rise in the
morning suppressing these too tender sensibilities.

Tis 5 month since the Boston sailed during all which time I have only received two
very short Letters.2 That you have wrote more I know tho you do not mention them. Cautious as tis necessary
you should be, methinks you need not be so parsimonious. Friendship and affection
will suggest a thousand things to say to an intimate Friend which if ridiculed by
an Enemy will only be an other proof among the thousands we already have of a savage
barbarity. A variety of new scenes must arise the discription of which would afford
ample amusement to your domestick Friend.

I had the pleasure of drinking tea a few days ago with Sir James Jay and Mr. Diggs.3 It was a pleasure to hear so directly from you and my dear Jack. The Gentlemen were
very social and communicative. I found they had throughly enterd into the character
of my Friend, who they represented as rather relucttantly entering into the modes
and customs of — —4 and rather conforming from necessity than inclination. They diverted me with an account
of the Freedoms and fondness of the . . . . . .5 for the venerable Doctor. At the same time I could not refrain figuring to myself
a grave American republican starting at the sight unaccustomed to such freedoms even
from the partner of his youth. After 13 years intimate connexion, who can recollect
the time when had she laid her hand upon his—a universal Blush would { 61 } have coverd her.6—Much however must be allowed for Forms and Customs which render even dissagreable
practise'es familiar. I can even consent that they should practise their Forms upon your Lordship considering your natural fondness for the practise whilst I hold
possession of what I think they cannot rob me of. Tis mine by a free gift, mine by
exchange, mine by a long possession, mine by merrit and mine by every law humane and
divine.

If I was sure this would reach you I should say many things which I dare not venture
to. I stand corrected if I have said any thing already which I ought not to. I feel
myself embaresse'd whilst my Heart overflows, and longs to give utterance to my pen.
Many domestick affairs I wish to consult upon. I have studied for a method of defraying
the necessary expences of my family. In no one Instance is a hundred pound L M better
than thirteen pounds Six and Eight pence used to be, in foreign Articles no ways eaquel,
in taxes but a fourth part as good. Day Labour at 24 shillings per day. What then
can you think my situation must be? I will tell you after much embaresment in endeavouring
to procure faithfull hands I concluded to put out the Farm and reduce my family as
much as posible. I sit about removeing the Tenants from the House, which with much
difficulty I effected, but not till I had paid a Quarters Rent in an other House for
them.7 I then with the kind assistance of Dr. T[uft]s procured two young Men Brothers newly married and placed them as Tenants to the
halves retaining in my own Hands only one Horse and two Cows with pasturage for my
Horse in summer, and Q[uinc]y medow for fodder in winter. At present I have no reason to repent of my situation,
my family consists at present of only myself, two children and two Domesticks. Our
daughter is at School in Boston, and I wait only to know how I shall be able to discharge
my schooling for Master Charles to place him at Haverhill. Debts are my abhorrance.
I never will borrow if any other method can be devised. I have thought of this which
I wish you to assent to, to order some saleable articles which I will mention to be
sent to the care of my unkle S[mit]h a small trunk at a time, containing ten or 15 pounds Sterling, from which I may
supply my family with such things as I need, and the rest place in the hands of Dr.
T[uft]s Son who has lately come into Trade, and would sell them for me, by which means if
I must pay extravagant prices I shall be more upon an eaquel footing with my Neighbours.

I have been obliged to make fence this year to the amount of 100 & 50 Dollors. I have
occasion for only a pair of cart wheels for which I must give 60 pounds Lawfull money.
I mention these few articles to { 62 } serve as a specimen of the rest. I inquired the price of a new carrage the other day
and found it to be no more than 300 pounds Lawfull money—at this rate I never will ask for a supply of this
light commodity from any Body let my situation be what it will. The Season has been fine for grass
but for about 3 weeks past we have had a sharp and severe Drouth which has greatly
injured our grain and a blast upon english grain with a scarcity for flower so that
a loaf which once sold for 4 pence is 4 shillings. Tis rumourd that the French fleet
to the amount of 18ten have arrived of Chesepeak. The Enemy have left Philidelphia,
but for politicks I refer you to the publick Letters which will accompany this.—Mr.
Tailor promisses to bring Letters from you whenever he returns. I am in daily expectation
of hearing from you. I lament that you lay so far from the sea ports that you must
omit some opportunities of writing. I will not suppose that with more leisure you
have less inclination to write to your affectionate and Lonely Friend

[signed] Portia

Dft (Adams Papers). RC, sent by “Mr. Tailor,” has not been found, was never acknowledged by JA, and may have been among AA's “last and largest packets distroyd,” the vessel conveying them “being taken and
carried into Halifax” (AA to JA, 21 Oct., below).

1. Draft was written on more than one day but left entirely undated. However, AA's saying that “Tis 5 month since the Boston sailed” indicates that she was writing
about mid-July; and her mention of a drought that had prevailed for three weeks also
helps place her letter close to 15 July because a little later Cotton Tufts told JA that the drought had begun on 24 June (Tufts to JA, 5 Aug., below). There are lesser clues pointing to the approximate date that has been assigned.

2. Those of 25 April (acknowledged by AA in her reply of 30 June, above) and 19 April (brought to her by Sir James Jay and George Digges at the beginning of July); both
above.

3. “Wednesday last [1 July] arrived here Captain Joseph Chapman, in 5 Weeks from France; in whom came Passengers
Sir James Jay of New-York, and George Diggs, Esq; of Maryland, by whom we have the
following Account of Arrivals in France from America” (Boston Gazette, 6 July). Concerning Jay and Digges see JA to AA, 19 April, above—a letter which they brought from Paris to AA.

6. AA's careless handwriting, punctuation, and capitalization leave some ambiguities in
this diverting passage. It is possible that the first five words in the present sentence
should be attached, instead, to the sentence preceding. Everything considered, the
editors think not, but they do think that the present sentence is defective as it
stands and that AA probably intended to write: “. . . who can recollect the time when, had she laid
her hand upon his, a universal blush would not have covered her?”